LILY’S POVI fought back a sob, forcing a strained smile. “It’s okay, Mom,” I lied. We both knew it wasn’t. Nothing about this was okay. Her face crumpled, an ocean of worry and fear etched into every line, deepened by my choice.I squared my shoulders, grabbed my bag, and pushed down the fear clawing up my throat. I had to protect her—no matter the cost. Without another word, I turned and left, the cold evening air biting at my skin as I made my way to Elder Elijah’s estate.The mansion loomed in the distance, each spire reaching toward the sky like skeletal fingers, casting shadows that seemed to grow longer, darker, as I approached. A familiar servant greeted me with a nod, his face blank and impassive, his voice monotone. “Elder Elijah is expecting you.”I nodded back, swallowing hard as he stepped aside, revealing a dim hallway that stretched toward a closed door. My pulse quickened, each beat hammering in my ears as I took slow, reluctant steps toward it. I stopped just outside,
**TRIGGER WARNING(None consensual scene)**LILY’S POVI stepped into the bathroom, feeling like I was dragging my feet through cement. Each step felt slower, heavier. I avoided my reflection at first, but my gaze drifted up—caught, almost unwillingly, by the face staring back at me.It didn’t feel like mine. I saw a girl hollowed out, the edges of her mouth pressed tight, eyes dark and glassy. A stranger. The weight of the silence pressed on me, and a prickle stung the back of my eyes, threatening tears. I clenched my jaw and swallowed. Not here. Not now.My gaze dropped to the counter, to the small pile of clothes waiting for me, mocking me with their presence. The underwear, stark against the cool surface, felt like some cruel emblem of this moment. It sat there, a thing I couldn’t escape, a command in fabric form.I took a shaky breath. My hand hovered over it, fingers twitching, reluctant to touch it, like it might burn. “You have to,” I murmured softly, the sound barely escaping
LILY’S POVAs I stumbled away from Elder Elijah’s house, my heart thundered wildly, each beat a raw reminder of what had happened. I could still feel the ghost of his touch crawling beneath my skin like a poison I couldn’t purge. The taste of him lingered in my mouth.I wanted to scream, to run, but my legs felt like lead. Where could I go? Home? My mother’s face flashed in my mind, her eyes filling with worry, her heart shattering once she knew. I couldn’t bear to see her look at me like that.I wiped away the tears with trembling fingers, willing myself to hold it together. Somehow, without even realizing it, I found myself outside Andrew’s quarters. My stomach twisted into untangleable knots.What would he think if he saw me like this—broken, hollow, smeared with the weight of someone taking advantage of me? I almost turned away, but before I could move, the door swung open.Andrew stood there, his expression softening the moment he saw me. He looked tired, his hair slightly mussed
ANDREW’S POVAs I held Lily close, her frail body trembling, her tears soaking into my shirt, a fire blazed inside me—a raw, consuming anger directed at that monster, Elijah. He was not fit to be an Elder. If anything, he should be hanged on a stake for everyone to see.I’d always sensed he was no good. The way he looked at Lily, his eyes crawling over her with a lecherous hunger, had never sat right with me. I thought I’d protected her before, interrupting his advances. But I’d been wrong.He was smarter and had other means. He’d attacked again—this time more viciously, with a deception I hadn’t foreseen. My jaw clenched, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Why had I let her go? Why hadn’t I insisted on walking her home?“Andrew…” she murmured, her voice so faint I barely heard it. Her fingers curled weakly into my shirt, as if clinging to the last scraps of safety.I could feel her sorrow, her shame, and my heart ached, knowing that I hadn’t been there for her when she needed me.“L
Andrew’s POVI hesitated, feeling my stomach twist. My voice wavered slightly as I forced the words out. "He… he forced himself on her, Hannah. That monster… he hurt her, both physically and… emotionally. And I’m afraid this might not be the first time."Hannah’s face went pale, her jaw clenching so tightly I could see the muscle twitch. Her voice came out low, simmering with barely contained rage. "How do you know this?"I took a shaky breath, the memory of Lily’s broken voice flashing in my mind. "She told me. Came to me last night, shattered. Scared in a way I’d never seen before. She told me everything."Hannah’s gaze burned into mine, fierce and unyielding. "Andrew," she said, her voice a deadly whisper, "we’re going to handle this. I promise you."I felt the gravity of her words, but I forced myself to stay grounded. "But we need proof," I replied, feeling the weight of reality pressing down on us. "And we need to protect Lily and her mother. Elijah… he won’t stop until he’s des
HANNAH’S POVAs Andrew walked away, my thoughts twisted in a storm of anger and worry. Elder Elijah’s actions were beyond belief—a betrayal so deep it cut through every bond of trust our pack had ever built with him. And the fact that Lily, my dear friend, had been hurt by his hand was unforgivable.I hurried to our room, my chest tight. Inside, I found Xavier and our son, Jackson, playing on the floor. Laughter bubbled up around them, filling the room with light—a sharp contrast to the turmoil inside me.Xavier looked up and immediately saw the worry etched on my face. His smile faded as he stood, his expression shifting from playful to serious. "Hannah," he said, his voice soft but tense. "What’s going on?”Jackson sensed the change too, his small hands grabbing Xavier’s leg. I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Andrew just left,” I said. “He told me... about Elder Elijah. About what he did to Lily.”“What did that bastard do?” he asked. I recounted everything Andr
HANNAH POVFor a second, she just stared at me, shock and fury in her eyes. Then she wiped the blood from her nose, smirking as if savoring the taste of it. “Betrayal hurts, doesn’t it?” she sneered, a twisted smile spreading over her face. “Coby would never betray me because he loves me. You’re nothing but a bitter memory to him.”The rage inside me burned hotter. I saw flashes of Coby’s face—his smile, his desperate promises, the hope I’d foolishly clung to. Was she right? Was everything he showed Xavier and me that day, when he came to see Jackson, a lie?I pushed the thought down, straightening my shoulders and forcing myself to breathe. “You’re wrong, Vivian,” I said coldly, my voice stronger than I felt. “Coby’s love for his son is stronger than any fantasy you cling to.”For a flicker of a moment, doubt shadowed her face, but she quickly covered it with a sneer. “We’ll see about that,” she whispered, retreating with a glint of dark satisfaction. I watched her go, willing my han
VIVIAN'S POVThe sun bore down on me, unforgiving, pressing heat into my skin as I pushed through the crowded street, clutching my nose. Blood trickled down my fingers, warm and sticky.Every throb echoed with her name—Hannah. Her face flashed in my mind, her smirk like a brand. I could still feel the sting of her slap on my cheek. She’d done this. Humiliated me. And she thought she could walk away? No. She was wrong.I pushed through the crowd harder, my grip on my nose tightening against the pain. I ignored the stares as people noticed the blood smeared on my hand. The thought of Hannah’s smug face twisted my lips into a cold, bitter smile.That bitch dared to do that—to me. Rage swelled, scorching away the sting. She’d pay, and she’d pay soon.Weaving through the bustling crowd, I couldn’t help but smirk. Hannah might think she had the upper hand, especially with Coby sticking close to her, but that confidence of hers was nothing more than a flimsy mask. She was about to learn how
XAVIER’S POV The night clung to us like a suffocating shroud as we crept toward Elijah’s house. The forest was alive with the restless whispers of the wind. My men moved like wraiths behind me, their presence a steady, silent hum of loyalty. Kas was at my side, his sharp eyes darting across the dark corners, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle twitching. My mind was a blade, honed to a razor’s edge. No hesitation. No mercy. Not after what Elijah had done. “Search the house,” I ordered, my voice low but slicing through the stillness. “Bring him in—dead or alive.” The words hung heavy, a storm brewing in the air. My men nodded, their movements precise as they fanned out. But as we neared the front door, my Lycan senses prickled. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth was tainted—sharp, acrid. Gasoline. My nostrils flared, and a growl rumbled deep in my chest, raw and guttural. “Stay back!” I barked, throwing my arm out to halt them. My heart hammered against
ELIJAH’S POV The hospital’s sterile air clung to my skin as I left Hannah behind, her words echoing in my mind like a death knell. Xavier wasn’t a man who forgave, and his wrath would be a storm I couldn’t outrun. But I couldn’t think about that now. Andrew was the priority. Finish him, then vanish before Xavier’s claws could find me. I hurried home, my heart pounding like a war drum. The streets blurred as I drove, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Beatrice. She didn’t know how close we were to the edge. She didn’t know how much danger we were in. As I neared my home, my lycan stirred uneasily, a low growl rumbling in my chest. Something felt... off. The ache in my chest wasn’t just fear—it was something deeper, something close to dread. When I pulled up to the house, the silence hit me like never before. There were no guards. No servants. Just an eerie stillness that made my skin crawl. My lycan’s growl turned into a whine, a sound I hadn’t heard in years. “Beatrice
ANDREW’S POV The room erupted into a frenzy of motion as the doctors rushed in, their faces a mix of shock and forced calm. My chest heaved, and my hands trembled at my sides, slick with sweat. The echo of my own voice still rang in my ears—raw, desperate, pleading for help. My eyes stayed locked on Lily, her fragile form almost swallowed by the sterile white sheets. But she was alive. Awake. Her eyelids fluttered, and the sight hit me like a sucker punch. Relief and guilt crashed together in a storm I couldn’t begin to sort out. The doctors moved around her with practiced precision, their murmurs a low, clinical hum. I stood frozen, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. Every second stretched into an eternity, every beep of the monitor a cruel reminder of how close I’d come to losing her. Finally, one of the doctors—a woman with kind eyes and a no-nonsense air—turned to me. Her smile was small but real, and it felt like the first crack of sunlight after a lon
ANDREW’S POV The cold, damp air of the dungeon clung to me like a second skin as I burst into the open. My chest heaved, not just from running, but from the raw, unrelenting fury burning in my veins. Beatrice was gone—her lifeless body left behind in that cursed cell—but Elijah… Elijah was still out there. And he would pay. I shifted into my wolf form, my paws pounding against the earth as I raced toward the main house. The guards and servants scattered like leaves in the wind, their shouts fading into the background. They weren’t my concern. My focus was singular, unyielding: find Elijah. Make him suffer. Make him regret digging his claws into what was mine. But as I tore through the forest, my wolf’s instincts sharp and unerring, I collided with a force that stopped me dead in my tracks. Alpha Xavier and his men stood before me, their presence commanding and unshakable. Xavier’s piercing gaze locked onto mine, and I shifted back into my human form, my body trembling with a mix
ANDREW’S POV The heavy dungeon door creaked open, and Beatrice stepped inside, her boots echoing against the cold stone floor. She carried a plate of food, her grip tight, knuckles whitening. Her eyes flicked to me, and for a split second, I saw it—hesitation, a flicker of doubt. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a hard, angry glare. She was trying to convince herself as much as me. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my face calm. This was my chance—my only chance to break free. “Beatrice,” I said, my voice low but steady. “You don’t have to do this. Let me go. I’ll make sure Xavier knows you were just following orders. You don’t have to go down with Elijah. He’s just using you.” She stopped short, her lips curling into a sneer. “Save your breath, Andrew,” she spat, her voice sharp but with a tiny crack in it—a fracture. “You’re going to die soon anyway. Why don’t you just shut up?” She dropped the plate in front of me. The bowl clattered, soup slos
HANNAH’S POV Elijah’s footsteps faded down the hallway, and I finally let out the breath I’d been holding. My chest felt tight, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might burst. I turned to Lily, my hands trembling as I reached for her. Her face was pale, her chest rising and falling in shallow, mechanical breaths. I leaned closer, my fingers brushing her wrist to check for a pulse. It was there—faint but steady. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The image of Elijah hovering over her, his cold gaze lingering, sent a chill through me. He hadn’t come to check on her. He’d come to finish what he had already started. “Lily,” I whispered, my voice breaking. I took her hand, squeezing it gently as if I could will some of my strength into her. “Please, wake up. You have to fight. We need you.” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. “You’re not alone, okay? I’m here. Xavier’s here. We won’t let him hurt you again.” Her hand twitched—just the sl
ELIJAH’S POV The heavy dungeon door groaned as it swung shut behind me, its iron hinges screaming in protest. My boots scraped against the uneven floor, each step a deliberate act of defiance as Andrew’s muffled groans faded into the oppressive darkness. My chest tightened, a volatile mix of anger and satisfaction coiling deep within me. He deserved this. Every agonizing second of it. Beatrice caught up with me, her face a mask of worry. “We need to kill him before Xavier returns and finds out. If we’re caught, it’ll be over for both of us.” I glanced at her, slightly irritated. “Not yet, Beatrice. I want him to suffer more before I end him. He stays alive for now, and that’s final.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re making a mistake. Keeping Andrew alive is too dangerous, especially with Xavier sniffing around. It’s not about Andrew himself—it’s about what happens if Xavier returns with more guards to search for him.” I considered her words for a moment, the scenario
ANDREW’S POV The cold was the first thing I felt—sharp, biting, like teeth sinking into my skin. It wasn’t just the chill of the dungeon; it was alive, slithering through the air, wrapping around me until I could barely breathe. My head throbbed, each pulse a cruel reminder of the blow that had knocked me out. My body ached, every muscle screaming as I shifted slightly. Then came the sound—a sharp, metallic clink. Chains. My wrists were shackled, the cuffs digging into my flesh, and my ankles were anchored to the floor with heavy iron. I was trapped. I blinked, my vision swimming as it adjusted to the dim, flickering light. The walls were slick with moisture, the stones jagged and uneven, as if they’d been carved to inflict suffering. The air reeked of mildew and decay, a nauseating stench that clawed at my throat. This wasn’t just a cell; it was a tomb, a place designed to crush hope. And then I saw him. Elijah stood a few feet away, his silhouette sharp against the gloom.
XAVIER’S POV I stormed out of the hospital, my mind racing as I headed straight for Elijah’s compound. Andrew’s impulsive decision to confront Elijah alone was reckless, and I knew it could only end in disaster. Elijah wasn’t the kind of man you confronted without a plan, and Andrew’s grief and rage had clouded his judgment. I had to stop him before it was too late. When I arrived at Elijah’s house, the guards at the gate immediately tensed, their hands hovering near their weapons as they recognized me. I didn’t have time for their games. “I need to speak to Elijah,” I said, my voice sharp and commanding. “Now.” The guards exchanged uneasy glances but eventually stepped aside, allowing me to pass. I strode through the compound, my senses on high alert. The place reeked of arrogance and deceit, and I hated every second I had to spend there. Elijah was waiting for me in the main hall, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. “Xavier,” he said, his voice smooth and mocking. “To wh